We’re blitzing the GRAND FINALE for
Parched
By Georgia Clark
Robots, renewable resources, and romance get tangled together in this thrilling
futuristic adventure novel about a utopian city struggling to keep its peace.
Did you miss any of this tour? Go back and check out what you missed…
Launch – More About the Author and Parched
What do you hope readers take with them when they read your book?
Parched is about a girl who joins a rebel underground group to fight for what she believes in. I hope this book inspires readers to do the same.
One of the most fun parts of writing a sci-fi is getting to invent cool new technologies. Here’s a few of my favorites from my new novel Parched, and where their inspiration came from.
“Parched by Georgia Clark was an enjoyable and interesting read that gets you thinking about big brother, world domination and what will happen when AI becomes a reality.”
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
Ooh, hard question. I love them all!
Did you do any kind of research to determine the details of your characters lives / lifestyles?
I did a ridiculous amount of research! I interviewed experts I tracked down online, subscribed science-y magazines, read articles, listened to podcasts. A lot of podcasts, specifically, Robots and Singularity 1 on 1.
“This book was intense. There was always something happening and I felt that if I blinked I was going to miss something. . . . Parched was dynamic, mind boggling, and just outright good. It is definitely worth the read.”
Where did you get the idea for Tess?
Tess is a combination of me, some of my friends, and other YA heroines. I love creating spunky female characters who are brave, but flawed, who are active, emotional but not just boy-crazy. Tess is not a girly-girl, and neither am I.
“There were some twists, turns and surprising revelations and Tess needed to figure out who she could trust. Once I got involved, I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. If you enjoy dystopian Sci-Fi, this is a book you will want to check out!”
Welcome to the world of Parched: a rollercoaster ride of robots, rebels and romance, of secrets, impossible choices, and a fight for freedom, all in a domed city and a sprawling desert…
“Upon starting to read it, I found that I just kept wanting to read and read and read. Nothing could distract me from wanting to find out what was going to happen to Tess next.”
“I’m quite impressed by this book. . . . I was suddenly spending my last hours awake reading it.”
How To Be A Woman, by Caitlin Moran
Warning: Do not start listening to this book unless you’re prepared to have your internal monologue hi-jacked by a Brit. It’s driving me literally balmy! It’s a testament to Caitlin’s distinctive voice as a writer that I’m able to channel her so successfully.
“Even though I am not a huge fan of robots, I felt like this was such a good story. Plus how many sci fi/YA/romance stories are out there that are this awesome!”
Having to select your favorite books is like having to select your favourite cake: impossible! They’re all so good! But I bit the bullet and tried to whittle them down. Best enjoyed over a slice of salted caramel something…
“Parched is exactly what I expected and nothing like I expected. You will enter a world of robots, choices, and the chance to do what is right no matter the cost. It is true to the YA Dysotopian genre but with a spin all it’s own.”
“After I finished reading Parched, all I could think was “wow.” There is so much to take in here, between the richly thought-out world, the customs of each society, and the intricate relationships between all of the characters.”
Following her mother’s murder, Tess fled her safe and easy life in the domed city of Eden to spend an aimless year in the rough ‘n’ ready Badlands. Here she changed her name, taught herself the local dialect Malspeak, and learned to hunt, protect herself and survive on her own.
Tess is first introduced to Hunter when she returns to her home of Eden—a lush, technically advanced and socially conscious city that thrives under a clear dome—after spending a year in the rough ‘n’ ready Badlands. He’s her uncle’s teaching assistant, socially awkward if thoughtful: ‘his curious, darting eyes seem to exude intelligence’.
“I just finished reading Parched and I liked it very much. Anyone who loves to read about a future world with robots and some romance mixed in will like this book. I thought the storyline was good and I liked the action.”
Can you tell me more about the book beyond what it listed on the back cover and what inspired you to write it?
I grew up watching great sci-fi movies like Bladerunner and Star Wars and have always been attracted to the genre: equal parts exciting/fun and thoughtful/insightful. I loved The Hunger Games and felt inspired to write something of that ilk: a young girl in a brave new world, fighting for what she believes in.
Parched
by Georgia Clark
YA Romantic Sci-Fi
Hardcover, 312 Pages
March 14th 2014 by Holiday House
Sixteen-year-old Tess lived in Eden, a seemingly idyllic, domed city where access to information and water is regulated by the governing Trust. After a rogue robot killed her scientist mother, Tess fled with a terrible secret to the desperate, arid Badlands, where she’s recruited by Kudzu, explained to her as a “nonviolent collective working to undermine the Trust and free the Badlands.” Learning Kudzu plans to destroy Aevum, the Trust’s latest advanced robot, Tess reluctantly returns to Eden, where she finds the luxurious life morally unconscionable and secretly trains with Kudzu. Living with her uncle, who’s involved with Aevum, Tess is strangely attracted to his sympathetic assistant, Hunter. During a Kudzu raid on the Trust’s lab, Tess discovers that Aevum will be used to eradicate all inhabitants of the Badlands—and that Hunter’s not what he seems to be.
Tess’ first-person, present-tense voice lends chilling immediacy to her no-nonsense story of mixed loyalty, disturbing secrets, and ethical dilemmas associated with diminishing natural resources and scientific experimentation.
Amazon – Barnes and Noble – Indie Bound
Georgia Clark is an Australian writer and performer based in Brooklyn. She is the author of the young adult novels SHE’S WITH THE BAND (Allen & Unwin) and sci-fi/romance PARCHED (Holiday House). Widely published online and in print. Won some awards/grants/residencies. Has a play on at the NY Fringe festival. Pretty keen on cheese plates.
$20 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
Signed copy of Parched (US only)
Ends January 25th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
To post this Grand Finale (we’ll send you the HTML code) and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter,
email us at PrismBookTours(at)gmail.com with “SciFi GF” in the subject line.
Are you interested in reading about futuristic societies where there are aliens and space travel, technological advancement, robots and utopias? If so, then check out the books that were featured on this
Sci-Fi Tour!
We’re often convinced if we just get this, whatever this is, our suffering will end. Yet with all of today’s advancements, why does utopia still seem to be something achievable only after death while dystopia our human inheritance?
Can technology change this?
Suppose that medical bioengineers invent a synthetic stem cell, a biomite, that can replace any cell in your body…
Halfskin(Halfskin #1)
276 Pages
Biomites are artificial stem cells that can replace any cell in your body. No more kidney failure, no severed spines or blood disease. No cancer. Pharmaceuticals become obsolete. With each dose of biomites, we become stronger, we become smarter and prettier.
We become better.
At what point are we no longer human?
Clay
(Halfskin #2)
278 Pages
This psychological thriller will keep them second-guessing every move while they elude Marcus Anderson and the governing agency that seeks to rid the world of biomites. But in the end, they’ll all discover just how deep the betrayal goes.
Tony Bertauski: During the day, I’m a horticulturist. While I’ve spent much of my career designing landscapes or diagnosing dying plants, I’ve always been a storyteller. My writing career began with magazine columns, landscape design textbooks, and a gardening column at the Post and Courier (Charleston, SC). However, I’ve always fancied fiction.
And I’m a big fan of plot twists.
**Excerpt**
Prologue
In need of Glory
Frustrated and embarrassed by its struggle to defeat the Tikal rebels, the United States Space Force dumped its resources into the development and construction of a new class of warship. After nine years of research and development, trial and error, the final product was beyond impressive. Integrating the bleeding-edge of current technologies and completely inventing new ones, the new warship was an absolute marvel. The ship was a perfect harmony of the highest levels of speed, agility, weaponry and defensive capabilities. The awe-inspiring warship was leaps ahead of everything else in the known universe…
The GloryThe Glory and it is a fun, funny, exciting, character-driven sci-fi book that follows Adam Whitlock in his journey to join the United States Space Force in hopes of becoming captain of The Glory, the best ship in the fleet. Meanwhile, brewing tensions between the humans and a group of alien races is on the verge of becoming a full-scale war.
Amazon
Founder of Fictitious Fox Publishing, author of The Glory and owner of a sweet head of hair,
Mister JMI is a longtime lover of the art of storytelling.
At the age of 12, Mister JMI knew he wanted to become a writer. Unfortunately, his dream was delayed for over a decade to suffering from a severe case of chronic procrastination. Now fully recovered, Mister JMI is ready to unleash a deluge of exciting, funny and fantastic stories for your entertainment.
So sit back, relax and enjoy.
Would you like a receive a copy of The Glory? Send an email request to this email.
How to Research A Sci-Fi Novel
(if You Know Nothing About Robots)
I did a ridiculous amount of research for my second novel, Parched. So much so that when compiling it all for this guest blog post for the Prism book tour, I found myself wondering 1. I am crazy and 2. If knowing it was going to take as much time as it did, if I’d do it all again. (Answers are ‘yes’ and ‘yes’).
My jumping off point for Parched was this: a girl in love with a robot. What did I know about robots? Well, I’d seen Bladerunner a few dozen times…
Parched
Robots, renewable resources, and romance get tangled together in this thrilling futuristic adventure novel about a utopian city struggling to keep its peace.
“Bold futurist adventure with unusual romance, riveting action and ominous ecological red flags.” —Kirkus Reviews
Georgia Clark is an Australian writer and performer based in Brooklyn. She is the author of the young adult novels SHE’S WITH THE BAND (Allen & Unwin) and sci-fi/romance PARCHED (Holiday House). Widely published online and in print. Won some awards/grants/residencies. Has a play on at the NY Fringe festival. Pretty keen on cheese plates.
Tour-Wide Giveaway
$15 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
Ebooks of Halfskin and Clay (INT)
Signed copy of Parched (US Only)
Ends September 14th
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: William Woodall
Title of book and or series:
The Tyke McGrath Series.
There are five books in this series, including
Nightfall, Tycho, Avenger, Freedom, and
Elysium. Readers can begin either with
Tycho or with
Nightfall (which is more of a prologue).
This series is a loose continuation of both the
Last Werewolf Hunter series and the
Unclouded Day series, but readers need not have read those other series first before enjoying this one.
Brief summary of the story:
This series follows the adventures of a boy named Tycho McGrath (Tyke to his friends) who is a brilliant high school genetics student in Tampa when he discovers that a man-made plague known as the Orion Strain is about to wipe out all human and animal life on earth. He and several friends and family members escape to the partially terraformed Moon to survive, and from there the story progresses for the next five years as Tyke grows up, falls in love, fights unexpected enemies, and sometimes learns a thing or two about his purpose in life and how hard it can be to fulfill the expectations of others. In the process he slowly moves from being an indifferent Christian who isn’t terribly interested in spiritual things to a mature believer ready to take up the work that God has assigned to him.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
This series takes place in the real universe, about a hundred and fifty years in the future. Most of the action takes place on the Moon, Venus, Mars, and Titan (a large moon of Saturn).
If we were to visit any of these places as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
There are lots of things to see and do, especially on the Moon since it was purposely designed to delight tourists. Some of Tyke’s favorite places are the emerald green beaches of the Summer Isles in the Sea of Tranquility, the skyscraper-sized cliffs where visitors can jump a thousand feet into Lake Boscovich, and Trinity Bay on the Sea of Serenity, where visitors can hunt the edible blue Hamburger Crabs among the cypress trees. Tyke also particularly loves the beautiful golden meadows of Eleuthera above the Cytherean Sea on Venus, and the thousand-foot Angel Falls on Mars. The most fascinating thing on Titan is the Temple of Muwamanth, which is built of solid ice in the middle of a black jungle. There are many other things, too.
What dangers should we avoid in this future time?
The leftover spores of the Orion Strain are still present all over the earth, a constant danger if you’ve never been vaccinated. Depending on where you went, you’d have to contend with deadly heat or bone-chilling cold, hostile aliens and humans, poisonous gases, lack of food/water/air, radiation poisoning, horrific storms, vicious mutant animals, and dangerously unreliable equipment. Not to mention traitors who might stab you in the back at any time.
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| Tharsis Region, Mars |
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in these worlds? On most of these worlds the food is typical American, but on Titan one might be served a salad made of chunks of tar and sprinkled with gasoline, with a sharp piece of bone to eat with. It would be an inedible meal, of course, but the A’rum would consider it rude not to serve you.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in these worlds?
Human weaponry generally includes both bullets and lasers, depending on the situation. Humans also use taser-like stunners when they don’t wish to kill. It’s common to wear silvery, reflective “mirrorsuits” as armor against lasers. The A’rum of Titan have no metal, so their weaponry is made entirely of string and pieces of bone. This usually involves slings, whips, and knives.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to these worlds?
Humans have land rovers, jets, and spacecraft of various kinds. The A’rum either walk or fly.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in these worlds that we don’t see on earth?
Most plants and animals are typical earthly ones, except on Titan. There you would find the sentient A’rum who resemble large hairless bats and whose body chemistry is based on acetylene rather than sugar. There are also “fish” and “eagles” on Titan with similar body chemistry. Plants include “algae” and succulent “elephant ear trees” with large flat leaves and lots of thorns, which will pull apart like taffy and spontaneously melt and then boil if a human holds them in his hand. To any living thing on Titan, the body of a human being feels hotter than a blowtorch. On the Moon one would find several genetically-engineered plants and animals including freshwater versions of marlin and giant kelp, vampire roaches which travel in swarms and attack other animals for blood, highly aggressive “monsters” which resemble giant beavers with needle-sharp teeth, the blue Hamburger Crabs which were designed to taste like hamburger meat when roasted, and many species of flowers found nowhere else.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of the people in this series? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
There is no magic in these worlds, but the supernatural does play a part. Characters have true dreams of things they couldn’t have known otherwise, and there is miraculous healing sometimes. There are sometimes supernatural objects such as the Guardian Stones and holy water.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in the future? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
One of the most interesting is the tachometer, a device used for observing what will take place in the future. It can also transport individuals to the future, although it’s strictly a one-way trip with no possible return. There are advanced methods of genetic engineering, computer design, and engine propulsion. There are also several methods available for terraforming new worlds (that is, transforming them into places where earthly living things could survive).
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in the future.
There is reverse bungee-jumping on Deimos, in which people take advantage of the low gravity to jump thousands of feet into the sky and then fall back to the ground. There’s big-game monster hunting in the Altai crater swamps on the Moon. One could visit Ukert Springs for a skin exfoliation treatment by the Doctor Fish who live there. The survivors are fond of having beach parties every Saturday night with music and dancing and food. Otherwise there are all the usual human games like football, baseball, etc.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in these worlds as on earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The human calendar is the same everywhere, but on the Moon daylight and dark each last for two weeks at a time and on Venus they last for 58 days apiece (not to mention the sun rises in the west). On Mars an extra 40-minute “hour” is inserted at midnight every day to keep up with the rotation of the planet. On Titan a “year” is really seven earth years long, and every three and a half years on the equinoxes, the three Kings come together at the Temple of Muwamanth for a holy festival, during which time no fighting is permitted anywhere in the world.
Is there a particular religion practiced in these worlds? Please describe what it involves.
The survivors of Earth are mostly Christians. The A’rum on Titan believe in God and have a tradition of prophets who dream true dreams to tell the others what He wishes of them.
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| Land of Snow, the Moon |
What is the political or government structure in the future? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The A’rum live in widely scattered clans of about a hundred members each, ruled by one member with unquestioned authority. There are three “kingdoms” on the planet, each ruled by one King who controls all the clans in his territory. At the time of the story, the King of Dilmun was a wicked heretic who attempted to kill Tyke and his friends. The small band of human survivors are led by Philip Carpenter, since most of them are his children or relatives anyway. He’s a very brave and wise leader who came to this time from the past via the tachometer. Mars is ruled by an iron-fisted military dictator known as Colonel James Burns, and Venus is controlled by his henchman Colonel Luke Bartow. Both of them are cruel, ruthless men who will do anything to maintain power. The rebel forces on Mars and Venus are commanded by Captain Brandon Stone, who is rather philosophical and places a high value on life.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit the future?
The A’rum deeply admire honor, and love to wage bloody warfare with each other over the slightest of insults. They are utterly ignorant of the concept of romantic love, since everything on the planet (including them) reproduces only by budding. From time to time they will award the title of akiri to someone who has acted with exceptional bravery and honor. They don’t comprehend money, and the only things of special value among them are “jewels” which are actually small bits of shiny meteoric iron. Those fortunate enough to own one of these jewels often like to string them on necklaces.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your series?
Some of the locations are ones that I’m personally familiar with, like Texas and Florida. The geography and conditions on the other worlds are factual information which I didn’t need to make up; I simply had to fill in the blanks about what those places might be like if they were partially terraformed. Even the conditions on Titan are as real as we have any way of knowing. That said, the tree covered with chewing gum in Nightfall and several other minor places and things did come from my real life.
What, if any, hot-button or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
I don’t really think anything in this series is controversial, or at least not intentionally so. The characters frequently discuss very deep and philosophical topics such as the nature of God and the soul, thorny moral dilemmas, what exactly it means to live as Christian and as a scientist, and many other things of that sort. But these aren’t debates, they’re simply individual characters trying as best they can to understand God and to live according to what He would have them do.
I was born and raised in the Arkansas hills, though I’ve also spent considerable time in Texas since then. I became a Christian at the age of 16 and all my books are written for God’s glory. I’ve been a science teacher and a counselor for many years, and I love working with young people.
Where and in what formats can we purchase your books?
All my books can be purchased in formats compatible with almost all e-readers.
Where can readers connect with you online? My
Official Author’s Website is the best place to connect with me.
It’s a large site full of information and freebies.
Here you’ll find free short stories and poetry, MP3 tracks of all the music mentioned in my books, downloadable discussion questions for each book, pictures and maps of characters and places, quotable quotes, interviews, commentary, links to source materials, and contact information.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip through time to our universe in the future. Questions about the planets and moons or the series? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the world of “Old Japan” (based on actual Japanese history and folklore) in Realm Explorers Part V!
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name:
Lia London
Title of book and/or series:
The Gypsy Pearl
Brief summary of the story:
Caz has lived on an Interplanetary City Station all her life and is bored to the point of rebellion. When a fight with a class bully gets her sent to a reformatory on “the Surface”, she heads down to the planet Caren full of anticipation. She hopes for adventure, and is more than rewarded with it when she meets an escaped delinquent, gypsies, and the alien creature that travels with them. A bizarre encounter with the creature leaves Caz with a gypsy pearl inside of her arm, and the side-effects alter the course of her destiny.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The planet Caren is somewhat Earth-like, though it spins a little faster, causing more violent fluctuations in the weather. There is an ocean with golden beaches, and mountains with green forests. The overall climate is approaching tropical. There are only about a dozen colonies on the entire planet, all located on the land mass just north of the planet’s equator. The colonies are like small villages, each with some specific purpose that serves the Granbo Solar System (with its two other inhabited planets and the Interplanetary City Station system). The Rik Peninsula is known for fishing, but it also hosts the juvenile Lamond Reformatory for delinquent youths.
If we were to visit Caren as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? Definitely spend some time scuba diving, as the water is not too deep, and is not teeming with predators. Charter a fishing expedition on a hovercraft.
What dangers should we avoid in Caren?
The mountain and forest regions have some dangerous animals, most notably the black vipers. They are fat snake-like things whose venom can kill in less than a minute.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Caren?
Most meals feature revos, which are a root vegetable akin to turnips or potatoes. They can be prepared in a variety of ways. Also duspies are like a purple cross between grapes (in clusters) and corn (on stalks). These are primarily eaten raw as a fruit, but can also be made into juice. The leaves of the Rik trees are also used by gypsies to make tea. The leaves contain medicinal properties that aid the memory. Rik Tea, however, is not sold in most public houses.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Caren?
Laser rifles are used by guards at the Reformatory or security patrols, but in general, the colonies on Caren do not have much weaponry. Crime is not rampant, and weapons would mostly only be used for defense against wild animals.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel on or to Caren?
To get to Caren, one would have to have gone through Quarantine on an ICS (if traveling from another planet), and then be vaccinated against local diseases. A Ferry (an egg-shaped shuttle with no windows) takes passengers into the atmosphere from the ICS and then uses parachutes for a water landing. From there, a hovercraft water ferry comes to retrieve the passengers and takes them to the docks. Magnetic planks attach to the docs, and from there people can travel by foot, by wheeled vehicles that have a driver’s cabin and a passenger cab in the back, or by skimmer–which is a two-seater motorcycle/scooter type thing that can travel parallel to the ground regardless of the angle of the terrain. There are also standard 4-seater type planes.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Caren that we don’t see on earth?
The aforementioned vipers are the largest animals indigenous to Caren, but faneps–humanoids about the size of a cat with larger eyes and razor sharp fishy teeth–can be found in swarms in the mountains and forests. These animals (unbeknownst to almost everyone) are telepathic. Sometimes they are “domesticated” and travel with gypsies as guard-dog type help, but generally they are considered repulsive and dirty.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Caren?
The Gypsy Pearl itself (the one in Caz’s arm) carries a supernatural power to make her much stronger physically, able to heal from wounds quickly, and able to defy gravity if in falling situations so that she can land safely. She can also link herself mentally to work in unison with other faneps, again defying gravity in certain maneuvers. There is more to come, but in this volume of the trilogy, that’s all we get to see.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Caren? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Comlinks are egg-shaped communicators that can link from the Surface to any ICS in range. The communication display is a blue-ish cone of holographic display.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Caren.
Children often play with Turbo Chips, like playing cards except that each plastic piece has different shapes and purposes. There is a digital end to it, too. Holographic ids replace TV.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in Caren as on earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
Earth holidays are not referenced, but the 7-day week has been artificially imposed regardless of what is actually happening. The rotation of the planet makes for 20 hour days.
What is the political or government structure in Caren? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
Each of the colonies on the various planets has its own Governor, though as recently as 50 years ago, there was a Queen on Caren who managed to unify the colonies on her planet and several on the other two planets (Craggy and Type). That was known as the Empire. She was assassinated, and the colonies went back to autonomy loosely guided by the Granbo Charter, a series of laws put in place to keep relations between colonies efficient, mutually beneficial, but mostly isolated. It’s as if everyone only interacts as much as they absolutely have to.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Caren?
Caren citizens and gypsies don’t mix much. Gypsies will be hired for migrant work, and often can make a living trading valuables like the gypsy pearls, but groups just don’t mingle much.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
The whole trilogy will be looking at the balances of power, and whether or not uniformity for efficiency’s sake is truly the most productive (or happy) way to live.
Author Autobiography:
I was born in Oregon, but spent several years living in North Carolina, Scotland and Guatemala as well as traveling in Europe and South America. Since my youth, I have loved to read and write, as well as sing. Starting in grade school, I wrote skits for class presentations and school assemblies, and by my freshman year in college had written a musical comedy which was produced by Salem, Oregon’s Children’s Educational Theaters summer troupe. I taught English, Geography, and Spanish in high schools and private language institutes until my first child was born, at which time I became a stay-home mom, tutoring for pay and writing scripts and narrations for non-profit organizations (choral, dramatic, educational and religious). In 2011, I published my first full-length novel, The Circle of Law, and entered the world of indie publishing. Since then, I have published four more books with a fifth due out this fall. Last year, I created Clean Indie Reads, a blog and FB network promoting books free of explicit content. We now have over 700 authors and a readership beyond my most ambitious aspirations. I have returned to Oregon and live with my husband, two children, a dog, and a cat. I’m also a black belt in Taekwondo.
 |
Lia London as a “Wild Thing” when Performing a Dramatic Interpretation of
“Where the Wild Things Are” in a Church Talent Show |
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Caren. Questions about the planet or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the planets and moons of our solar system a hundred fifty years in our future, in Realm Explorers Part IV!
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name:
Dyego Alehandro
Title of book and/or series:
Avarice Dynasty: Evasion
Brief summary of the story:
Drevin Cantrim awakens to find out he’s one of the few survivors of a starliner explosion, and that the tragedy was no accident. He must race to try and figure out what he might have done to anger the Barons before their unstoppable assassin finds him and his friends.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The Frontier Worlds are on the other side of the Milky Way galaxy in a dense supercluster of stars. There are 105 star systems with habitable planets or otherwise exploitable celestial bodies. One of the planets visited in the story is New Mercury, a frozen rock that’s farthest from its star. It is a harsh existence but the mineral and liquid wealth of the planet means that there are always people living there. It is located in the Canine Taurus star system, in the Canine Star Province.
If we were to visit New Mercury as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
During Sunside, there are regular tourist tours out to the mining facilities and the Worlds-famous Hosgen Glaciers. Several of the enclosed cities, known as Habitats, have excellent spas using fresh glacier water. New Mercury is not generally considered a tourist destination, however, so most of the locals would point you elsewhere for a visit.
What dangers should we avoid on New Mercury?
Never try to fly or visit the surface without protection, and definitely don’t do it during Farside. That’s when the planet’s long rotation turns it away from the sun. The temperatures drop so quickly that the methane freezes right out of the atmosphere, dropping in large, dangerous chunks of ice.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served on New Mercury?
Amazingly enough, there are six types of aquatic animals that can survive the extremely harsh environment. Three of those species are edible as expensive delicacies that are only available onsite.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common on New Mercury?
New Mercury is in the realm of the BloodGutters, one of the six currently-ruling Alpha Cartels. The BloodGutters, as their name implies, favor vicious warfare with a lot of chemical weapons. The planet itself has never been the site of a battle during either of the Cartel Wars; the locals figure they have a rough enough existence and don’t bother with war.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter on New Mercury that we don’t see on Earth? The only plant life are microscopic algae that populate the vast frozen oceans, and which feed two of the six aquatic species. The six-foot-long Mercales are the top predators and make for an excellent soup.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology on New Mercury?
New Mercury is one of the few planets where the cities are completely enclosed. The large transparent domes must be protected during Farside, otherwise the constant methane-ice bombardment would crack them open. Large metal armor plates are raised over the cities every time the planet starts to head Farside. This armor system is one of the greatest, and most expensive, technological wonders of the Frontier Worlds.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same on New Mercury as on Earth?
New Mercury does not have a local calendar that is anywhere near Old Earth’s. The planet with the calendar closest to Old Earth is called Prime. To give an example, New Mercury’s nights last six Prime days and it has no moon so there are no technical months. Its year, measured by how long it takes to orbit, is 204 Prime years. The locals are kept in sync with the rest of the Frontier Worlds because every planet goes by Prime time, regardless of local conditions. That’s a good thing, because none of the locals would ever get to celebrate a birthday if they went by New Mercury time.
Is there a particular religion practiced on New Mercury? Please describe what it involves.
Religion is a varied thing in the Frontier Worlds. Most of the people who left Old Earth brought a form of religion with them, but by the time they reached the Frontier Worlds these had changed. Most believe in a God of some sort, and the Bible is still regularly used, but there are not many standardized religions left after the Anarchy and the Cartel Wars. Spur Tarc is fairly famous on New Mercury as a radical preacher who claims that a person’s footwear is exceedingly important in gaining God’s approval.
What is the political or government structure on New Mercury? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The power structure in the Frontier Worlds goes Barons > Alpha Cartels > Local Government. In the more populous and frequented worlds, the Barons and Alpha Cartels exert a huge amount of influence. New Mercury is a distant and harsh planet, so the Barons barely even notice it. There is a BloodGutter Governor-General in charge, but she rarely visits the planet. The local Habitats have a loose coalition of mayors who make and enforce the day-to-day laws. Government is something that isn’t really on the minds of the locals; survival is a more pressing and urgent need.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit New Mercury?
If the Habitat you wish to visit is on the Farside they will be completely out of contact for up to six days. This has led to a culture where people are regularly cut off from the outside world and must rely on each other for anything they need. Patience is a huge virtue among New Mercurians, and anybody who tries to force a conversation or a landing with a Farside Habitat is usually shot out of the sky with little warning. They take their survival and their culture very seriously.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
New Mercury was inspired by the three years I spent in a small town in Iowa when I was 9-12. The world froze over every winter, something I wasn’t used to in southern California, and everything seemed to grind to a halt. The town was close-knit and everybody knew everybody else. Going outside required effort and at times great expense.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
I write mostly for entertainment value. If I had to pick a theme, it would be this: humans are quite capable of ruining our own lives without needing evil alien overlords invading. But despite the sunken depths of humanity, there will always be those few who stand up and try to make things better. Drevin Cantrim is one of those people.
Author Autobiography:
I was born not far from Los Angeles and spent the next nine years living in seven or eight different locations in southern California. I moved to Iowa for three years (and two different houses) and then back to California. Then I moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1999 and have lived in that hot dustbowl ever since. I started writing just before the move to Iowa and haven’t stopped since. I enjoy playing computer and board games with my wife, and am an Adult Fan of Legos.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)?
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to New Mercury. Questions about the planet or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you! Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the fantasy world of Finian Jahndra, in Realm Explorers Part II!
Founder of Fictitious Fox Publishing, author of The Glory and owner of a sweet head of hair, Mister JMI is a longtime lover of the art of storytelling.
